Pakistan were nine down and 91 runs behind but Sarfraz Ahmed made his third Test century in the company of last man Rahat Ali to frustrate New Zealand and nearly wipe out the deficit in an extended first session. The two Pakistan spinners then struck thrice each but Ross Taylor cut his way to an unbeaten 77 to give his side an overall lead of 177 going into the final day.
New Zealand were not able to break through the last pair despite the extra half hour added to the morning session as Sarfraz and Rahat Ali added 81 in 28 overs. Sarfraz finally fell in the second over after the interval on 112, hitting a return catch to give Brendon McCullum his first wicket in 89 Tests.
Sarfraz's effort not only prevented New Zealand from taking a big first-innings lead, but also took plenty of time out of the game. He went past Kamran Akmal for the most Test runs scored by a Pakistan wicketkeeper in a calendar year, and also became the first keeper from his country to make three Test centuries in a calendar year.
Pakistan began on 281 for 6 and lost three wickets in the first ten overs to Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Sarfraz took singles off the first balls of a few overs only to see Yasir Shah and Ehsan Adil succumb to Southee's tight lines.
Sarfraz became wiser and shielded Zulfiqar Babar from most of the strike, but the left-arm spinner insisted on backing away and heaving at the fast bowlers. Sarfaz gave him one ball to negotiate in the 119th over, but Babar promptly nicked Boult behind.
Southee and Boult rarely bowled a loose ball and 38 runs came in 13 overs in the first hour. Sarfraz had realised farming the strike alone won't do, and he whipped and cut Boult for fours.
Ish Sodhi and James Neesham came on after drinks, and Rahat dug in. Sarfraz would take a single off the fourth ball mostly and then Rahat would move across, cover the stumps, and defend from the crease.
Sarfraz launched a flurry of boundaries against the offspinner Mark Craig and Sodhi. The field was spread out but Sarfraz found the gaps consistently. He lofted straight and over extra cover, and swept in front of and behind square. He took 25 off two overs from the spinners, moved to 96, and also brought up the fifty of the partnership.
New Zealand turned to Southee and Boult again, but Sarfraz was in complete command. He cut Southee for four to reach his century, and drove Boult for four more.
Rahat played his role superbly, playing out a maiden to Southee and wearing a blow on his arm. He also edged Craig between the keeper and slip, but as lunch neared, he developed enough confidence to launch Sodhi to the straight boundary twice. Rahat stayed undefeated on 16, having lasted 49 deliveries.
McCullum came out to bat eager to make up for lost time and cracked six fours in his 45, but New Zealand lost their best batsman of the series, Tom Latham, to a debatable decision. Latham was given caught by a diving Asad Shafiq at leg gully as he attempted to sweep Yasir on 9. He reviewed immediately, and there did not appear to be any visible contact with glove before the ball brushed his forearm. But without HotSpot or Snicko, there was no conclusive evidence for the third umpire to overturn the on-field decision. New Zealand slowed down as the spinners started to produce the edges, but there were no real chances going into tea.
They came in a rush during the final session though, as New Zealand lost 3 for 16 in the space of 17 balls. Kane Williamson had come out pretty positive after tea, and ended up driving Babar uppishly to short extra cover. McCullum went in Babar's next over, Pakistan reviewing successfully for leg-before. Corey Anderson lasted four balls as Yasir spun a big legbreak out of the rough, through the gate, and onto the stumps.
New Zealand had gone from 63 for 1 to 79 for 4, but Taylor was backing his instinct to cut, and had got going with boundaries through point off his first two balls. Taylor kept making room and cutting from the line of the stumps, scoring at a strike-rate in the eighties.
Neesham hung around for a while, but Babar spun in another ripper out of the rough to bowl him. Play was called off with ten deliveries to go, but two balls before, Yasir made one kick at BJ Watling, who fended the nearly unplayable delivery to second slip. It was a reminder of how tricky the chase could be for Pakistan on day five.
(Cricinfo)
